Wednesday, March 18, 2015

After reading this article you will find more info about eating organic food in 2017. On one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that's organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. Which should you choose? Get the facts before you shop.

Conventional vs. organic farming

The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.

Farmers who grow organic produce don't use conventional methods to fertilize and control weeds. Examples of organic farming practices include using natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants, and using crop rotation or mulch to manage weeds.

Organic or not? Check the label

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed.

Any product labeled as organic must be USDA certified. Only producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic foods are exempt from this certification; however, they're still required to follow the USDA's standards for organic foods.

If a food bears a USDA Organic label, it means it's produced and processed according to the USDA standards. The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it.

Products certified 95 percent or more organic may display this USDA seal.

Products that are completely organic — such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods — are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry the USDA seal. Foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal plus the following wording, depending on the number of organic ingredients:

•100 percent organic. To use this phrase, products must be either completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.

•Organic. Products must be at least 95 percent organic to use this term.

Products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients may say "made with organic ingredients" on the label, but may not use the seal. Foods containing less than 70 percent organic ingredients can't use the seal or the word "organic" on their product labels. They can include the organic items in their ingredient list, however.

Do 'organic' and 'natural' mean the same thing?

No, "natural" and "organic" are not interchangeable terms. You may see "natural" and other terms such as "all natural," "free-range" or "hormone-free" on food labels. These descriptions must be truthful, but don't confuse them with the term "organic." Only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA organic standards can be labeled organic

Organic food: Is it more nutritious?

Probably not, but the answer isn't yet clear. A recent study examined the past 50 years' worth of scientific articles about the nutrient content of organic and conventional foods. The researchers concluded that organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs are not significantly different in their nutrient content.

Organic food: Other considerations

Many factors influence the decision to choose organic food. Some people choose organic food because they prefer the taste. Yet others opt for organic because of concerns such as:

•Pesticides. Conventional growers use synthetic pesticides to protect their crops from molds, insects and diseases. When farmers spray pesticides, this can leave residue on produce. Organic farmers use insect traps, careful crop selection (disease-resistant varieties), predator insects or beneficial microorganisms instead to control crop-damaging pests. Some people buy organic food to limit their exposure to these residues. Organic produce typically carries significantly fewer pesticide residues than does conventional produce. However, residues on most products — both organic and nonorganic — don't exceed government safety thresholds.

•Food additives. Organic regulations ban or severely restrict the use of food additives, processing aids (substances used during processing, but not added directly to food) and fortifying agents commonly used in nonorganic foods, including preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colorings and flavorings, and monosodium glutamate.

•Environment. Some people buy organic food for environmental reasons. Organic farming practices are designed to benefit the environment by reducing pollution and conserving water and soil quality.

Are there downsides to buying organic?

One common concern with organic food is cost. Organic foods typically cost more than do their conventional counterparts. Higher prices are due, in part, to more-expensive farming practices.

Because organic fruits and vegetables aren't treated with waxes or preservatives, they may spoil faster. Also, some organic produce may look less than perfect — odd shapes, varying colors or smaller sizes. However, organic foods must meet the same quality and safety standards as those of conventional foods.

Food safety tips

Whether you go totally organic or opt to mix conventional and organic foods, be sure to keep these tips in mind:

•Select a variety of foods from a variety of sources. This will give you a better mix of nutrients and reduce your likelihood of exposure to a single pesticide.

•Buy fruits and vegetables in season when possible. To get the freshest produce, ask your grocer what day new produce arrives. Or buy food from your local farmers market.

•Read food labels carefully. Just because a product says it's organic or contains organic ingredients doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative. Some organic products may still be high in sugar, salt, fat or calories.

•Wash and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water. Washing helps remove dirt, bacteria and traces of chemicals from the surface of fruits and vegetables. Not all pesticide residues can be removed by washing, though. You can also peel fruits and vegetables, but peeling can mean losing some fiber and nutrients

1. C: Plague (epidemic) is a type of malady (illness), as anecdote (C) is a type of narrative (story). Bystander and participant (A) are opposites. Timidity (fearfulness) is a characteristic of cowards (B), not a type of coward. An emblem is a symbol or insignia, unrelated to dialogue (conversation or dramatic lines). Perjury is lying/falsifying courtroom testimony; homicide is murder.

2. E: A sheriff leads a posse; a foreman leads a jury. Painters do not lead easels (A), which hold the canvases whereon they paint. Students do not lead teachers (B) but are instructed and/or led by teachers. Mascots do not lead teams (C) but represent them. A sergeant may lead a regiment (military unit), but not a regimen (D), a regulated course of action as with medication/treatment, exercise, diet, or lifestyle.

3. A: Gigantic is great in size; substantial is great in mass. Marginal means minimal or peripheral, not great in volume (amount) (B). Bankrupt means having little or no money, not great amounts (C). Despondent means depressed, not great in cheerfulness (D). Heartrending means emotionally moving or upsetting, not great in humor (E).

4. C: A druggist works in a pharmacy, a waiter in a restaurant-both business places or buildings. A ballerina works in a dance studio and/or theater (business place/building) but wears a tutu (dance garment) (A); as a ballerina is clothed in a tutu, a hand is clothed in a glove (B); a coach teaches and guides a team (D); and a child is the offspring of a father (E). None of the incorrect answers represents WORKER: BUSINESS PLACE/BUILDING.

5. D: We ski on snow and skate on ice. We drive with/in a car (A), not on it. A putt is one action in golf (B), not a surface/green for playing golf. A step is one piece of a dance (C), not a dance floor. People do ride on horses (E), but the horse, like the car (A) is the means of conveyance, not the surface we travel over as snow and ice are skiing and skating surfaces.

6. B: To verify is to prove true; to purify is to make clean. To signify is to represent or show, not make cheap (A). To terrify is to frighten, not make confident or assured/certain (C). To ratify is to confirm or approve, not make angry (D). To mortify is to shame, not make relaxed (E).

07. E: A tarantula is a type of spider, a drone a type of bee. A mare is a female, a stallion a male, horse-two types of one animal, not types of two different animals. Milk is not a type of cow (B) but (noun) the cow's product, or (verb) an action performed on cows. A fly is a type of insect, not a type of parasite (C). A sheep eats grass, but is not a type of grass (D).

08. C: To ratify is to say yes; to veto, to say no (typically to legislation). To loom is to appear/arise largely, like thunderclouds; to be impending, as an event; or to weave, as fabric (A). Eradicate means to eliminate/remove/erase (B). Stifle means to suppress, smother, or forcibly end (D). Goad means to urge or prod (E). None of the incorrect choices means to say yes, or no, to anything.

09. B: Gaudy means tasteless/flashy; tasteful is an antonym. Meager means sparse; abundance means plenty. Impartiality, the noun corresponding to the adjective impartial, means objective (C); these are synonymous. Chronological means related to time (D); these are related but not opposites. Nutritious means promoting health (E); these are related but not antonyms.

10. A: Rite and ceremony are synonyms, as are magnitude and size. Affliction-distress or misery-is an antonym of blessing (B). Clamor, or noise, and silence (C) are antonyms. Pall, a shroud of darkness or gloom, is an antonym of clarity or clearness. Agitation, i.e. restlessness or (unpleasant) excitation, is an antonym of calm (E).

Monday, March 2, 2015

Life is so hectic that it is so easy to forget some easy hints to do well in your life. In this article you will find some easy to use mantra to do good in 2015. Here are some good reminders and help us stay on track in 2015.

1. Stay positive all time

Just staying positive and keep positively around you.

2. Put it on Paper

This way you will be on track .Whether setting your first goals, tracking daily progress, or sharing your deepest thoughts in a journal, writing helps to crystallize your ideas, expose your fears, and paint a picture of real life. As a starting point, write down your goals, big and small, and the steps you'll take to make them reality.

3. Never Stop Learning

This very important idea for all walks of life. A healthy lifestyle is a process—more of a journey than a destination. You can always learn more about nutrition, fitness, and even yourself that can help you be just a little bit better tomorrow.

4. Have Fun

If you enjoy whatever you do. You will never feel bore in your life.

Who says getting healthy has to be a chore? Think of it as an exciting adventure of self-discovery that will help you build a more meaningful life. Enjoy the ride and find ways to make it fun, whether you join a sports league, subscribe to a fun fitness magazine, or buy yourself some new workout clothes. Make the best of it!

5. Always See Your Goals

Goals need attention. They need to be seen, heard and thought of often. So surround yourself with as many reminders as possible: on the refrigerator, computer, bathroom mirror and calendar.

6. Start Small

If you not get a big job try with small one. Quite possibly the biggest mistake people make is pushing the accelerator too soon. You can’t lose 20 pounds in one week. But you can lose one. Just as a plant has to start as a tiny seedling, you have to start with small steps and expect small results, which add up to bigger results over time.

7. Come Out of Seclusion

Have you ever achieved anything of real value all by yourself, without the support of anyone else? Probably not. Most people receive help, advice and ideas from others. Support, a sense of shared experience, encouragement, advice, and well-timed pep talks are all invaluable as you set off on your healthy lifestyle adventure, so get others to join in and support you in reaching your goals!

8. Focus on Everyday Habits

The building blocks of a healthy lifestyle are forged in the smallest of actions you take every day and every week. Healthy choices can become as natural as brushing your teeth or locking the front door. Build your habits, one action at a time